Hippo Camp Step 4 // Ideal Budget, Investments

This step is super simple, and super fun. Or should be anyway. In this step we're going to make a wish list for your coming season. You're going to write down every infrastructure, equipment, and tool investment that will help you address your Disappointments, and help you reach your Goals.

In this step you will need
Your Achievements and Disappointments list from Step 1
You list of Stop doing/Keep doing/Start doing from Step 2
Your personal goals from Step 3
Somewhere to list your investments. You can use this simple spreadsheet.

The goal of this step
To price out all of the investments that will help your business crush your goals in the coming year

Time needed
60 + minutes (more if you're doing some infrastructure improvements)

Process
Open your Investment wish list spreadsheet and list out each item you want to invest in for the coming season. These items are one time purchases and are different than seeds, potting soil, etc. These are items that you don't need, but that would help you run more smoothly. They can be as big as a new wash/pack facility or as small as a new hula hoe. They should be specific to the point of knowing the price, and source, of each item. However, if you get caught debating between a 5 inch hoe and a 7 inch hoe because you aren't sure what your plant spacing will be next year, just choose an average price between the two, make a note that you aren't sure what size yet, and move on. Also remember that this is a Wish List, and not a commitment. Odds are you won't buy everything this year, and that's ok.

As you are entering items, try to guess when you will need them by. If it's a vacuum seeder you'll need it at least a week before you start your first seeds. If it's a hoe you might not need it until a couple weeks after your first field planting. Enter this date in your spreadsheet. Also list the priority of each item. Give it a 1 if you absolutely know you're going to get it, and maybe a 5 if it's a total dreamboat but you may not be able to invest quite yet.

Use what you've already written down in Steps 1-3 to help guide these decisions. Do you need physical therapy because you've been using a hand crank salad spinner? Put a machine spinner in there. Are you frustrated because your rototiller is a piece of junk? Are you frustrated enough to put in money for a new one? Did you say you were going to start tarping this year? Find some tarps, and put them on the list. How about your goals? Could a new seeder help you reach them?

Try to get as thorough as you can in this step. No investment is too wild.

Once you're done with you list, you can toast to big dreams and move on to filling out next year's budget. Good work!